What is Lampion? How to remove Lampion Trojan from your PC or Mac?
The Lampion Trojan is a banking virus which aims to hijack sensitive information, manipulate infected computers and be used for various crimes. A new attack carrying a new version of it is being operated against users in Portugal by sending out fake tax email notifications carrying the virus code. If the victims interact with it they will download the initial stage loader which will install the Trojan. Read our article to learn what the Lampion Trojan is capable of and to read instructions on safely removing active infection.
Threat Summary
| Name | Lampion Trojan |
| Type | Trojan Malware, Banking Trojan |
| Short Description | A very dangerous banking Trojan capable of advanced data theft. |
| Symptoms | The victims may notice performance issues and can get infected with other malware. |
| Distribution Method | Mainly via phishing email messages. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Lampion Trojan. |
The Lampion Trojan is one of the latest malware creations of an unknown hacking group that is currently set against victims located in Portugal. The available information shows that it derives from the code base of a malware family that primary consists of banking Trojans — advanced threats aiming to monitor the actions of the victims and manipulating web and application fields resulting in financial abuse.
What we know about the ongoing attack is that it is performed by an experienced group of criminals. Their identity is not known at this moment, we anticipate that they might be from Portugal or from another Brazilian-speaking country. What is evident from the phishing campaign is that the hackers are using a common and effective strategy of manipulating victims into opening up phishing email messages. They impersonate the Government Finance & Tax agency asking them to open and submit financial documents. To fool the victims into interacting with them the criminals have hijacked the design and style layout of similar messages. This ongoing campaign has recently been launched during the holiday season.
When the victims click on one of the received messages they will be led into downloading a file attachment, one of the sample messages is called FacturaNovembro-4492154-2019-10_8.zip and when it is unpacked by the user they will see three files — a PDF, VBS and a text file. When the users open up the script file (VBS) this will start the Lampion Trojan infection chain which starts by downloading the rest of the virus data from an Amazon S3 bucket. The related data which are retrieved from the remote server will not trigger any firewalls or Intrusion detection systems (IDSs) as the Amazon cloud service is treated as legitimate and safe. The second stage of the infection is the delivery of the main Trojan files — an EXE and a DLL file. A security bypass will be triggered which will stop any running anti-virus programs and security software that can potentially block the proper virus execution. The code analysis also shows that the virus engine will additionally modify the victim system by creating shortcuts, placing the files in system locations and etc.
The actual Lampion Trojan operations feature advanced capabilities that are typical for this type of viruses. Some of the features that are part of the captured Lampion samples include the following actions:
- Remote Connection Startup
- Network Resources Retrieval
- Network Resources Manipulations and Redirect
- Folder Path Retrieval
- Messages Communications
- Communications Parameters Changes
- Custom Functions
- Dialog Box Spawning
- Code Logic Storage
Lampion Trojan infected hosts will have been found to conduct extensive information gathering of data belonging both to the users and also giving details on the machines. The collected information is retrieved from the system information pages, the installed software, web browser history, clipboard, the file system and etc. Alongside other information everything will be forwarded to the hacker controllers via a secure network connection.
The Trojan allows the hackers to access and manipulate the infected machines via a specially designed web interface. It allows them to monitor the status of the computers and also filter them by applying the following sorting options:
country, date and hour of access, operating system, computer name, installed antivirus engine, version and plugin information
How to Remove Lampion Trojan
In order to fully remove Lampion from your computer system, we recommend that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. If the first two manual removal steps do not seem to work and you still see Lampion or programs, related to it, we suggest what most security experts advise – to download and run a scan of your comptuer with a reputable anti-malware program. Downloading this software will not only save you some time, but will remove all of Lampion files and programs related to it and will protect your computer against such intrusive apps and malware in the future.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Preparation before removing Lampion Trojan.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for Lampion Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Lampion Trojan on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Lampion Trojan there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by Lampion Trojan on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
Lampion Trojan FAQ
What Does Lampion Trojan Trojan Do?
The Lampion Trojan Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like Lampion Trojan, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can Lampion Trojan Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind that there are more sophisticated Trojans that leave backdoors and reinfect even after a factory reset.
Can Lampion Trojan Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the Lampion Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Lampion Trojan how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on Lampion Trojan?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the Lampion Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.